Shot in the Back by William W. Johnstone

his proposal, and they decided to get married on the Fourth of July.
    â€œDamn, Frank,” Sheriff Wallace said. “The Fourth of July is Independence Day. Why are you choosing that day to give up your independence?” He laughed at his own joke, and Jesse laughed with him.
    Sheriff Wallace was a good customer of the gun store, and Jesse recognized the advantage of making friends with the law. He had even allowed himself to be sworn in as a deputy on a couple of occasions.

CHAPTER SIX
    Sheriff Wallace, his wife, and several other businessmen of Wild Horse gave up a part of their Independence Day celebration to attend the wedding. And now, as firecrackers popped in the street, Jesse and Molly stood before Father Gordon Prouty, the priest of Holy Spirit Episcopal Church of Wild Horse.
    Jesse listened to the priest drone on through the litany of matrimony, then Father Prouty looked up from the prayer book he was holding.
    â€œI require and charge you both, as thee will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know of any impediment why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess. Far be well assured, that if any persons are joined together otherwise than as God’s word doth allow, their marriage is not lawful.
    â€œFrank, wilt thou have this woman, Molly, to be thy wife? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honor, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto her, so long as you both shall live?”
    Jesse hesitated. It wasn’t Molly he was seeing, it was Zee, and he saw her as clearly as he had that last day, standing in the park back in St. Joseph, Missouri. If he was going to say anything, if he was going to confess who he was, this was the time and the place to do it, because after this moment it would be too late.
    As the delay in his response stretched on, the smile on Molly’s face faded, to be replaced by a look of concern and confusion.
    â€œFrank?” Father Prouty prodded.
    â€œWhat? Oh, sorry. Yes, of course I will,” Frank said, smiling at Molly.
    Molly’s return smile was one of relief.
    â€œMolly, wilt thou have this man to thy wedded husband, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of matrimony? Wilt thou obey him, and serve him, love, honor, and keep him in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all others, keep thee only unto him, so long as you both shall live?”
    â€œI will.”
    â€œJoin your right hands together.”
    Jesse turned toward Molly and took her hand in his.
    â€œI declare you man and wife. Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.”
    As if on cue, several firecrackers went off outside, just in front of the church. Jesse, dropping Molly’s hand, spun toward the front door, his right hand moving quickly to his side, as if reaching for the pistol that wasn’t there.
    Sheriff Wallace laughed. “Whoa, hold on there, Frank. You’re a little jumpy, aren’t you?”
    Jesse laughed. “I guess I am,” he said.
    â€œCome on, folks, we’re goin’ to have a wedding party for these good people down at the hotel,” Seth Parker said. Parker owned the hotel.
    Â 
    Â 
    From the Wild Horse Times:

    Wedding on Independence Day
    Wild Horse’s newest businessman, J. Frank Alexander, married Molly Collins on July 4. The wedding was well attended by all the businessmen of the town.
    It was widely thought that when Ken Collins died, the gun store he had begun would go out of business. But to the satisfaction of all who would prefer to do as much of their business in Wild Horse as is possible, Mr. Alexander arrived from his former home in Paducah, Kentucky, bought the store from Ken Collins’s widow, and continues to operate it. His extensive knowledge of firearms has been of great benefit to all the citizens of the town.
    He kept